Because the NORTHERNVOYAGER had, in the past, carried as many as 500 to 600 nets on deck with none in the fish hold, it is unlikely that the stowage of the vessel's gear contributed to the sinking. Previous experience would also indicate that the weather was not a factor. As the lazaret contained 40 coils of line, it is considered that the remaining unoccupied space could not hold a volume of water large enough to interfere with the vessel's stability. The cuddy and the engine compartment were seen not to be flooded before the vessel was abandoned and the effect of flooding in the lazaret would have been minimal. Therefore, it appears that the NORTHERNVOYAGER sank as a result of an ingress of water from below the waterline in way of the fish hold. Although the forward section of the fish hold was partly filled with boxes of ice, the after two-thirds of this compartment contained nets which were considerably more permeable. The effects of an ingress of water to the fish hold would, at first, enhance the vessel's stability by the increase of weight. However, the free surface effect of the water would soon overcome such a condition and cause the vessel to list. Once the vessel had listed to approximately 60 degrees, downflooding would result. The fact that the vessel lay over on her side for approximately 30 minutes before sinking stern first would support this hypothesis. It is not known if a paravane was lost which would have caused the vessel to list toward the remaining or unencumbered paravane which, in turn, would tend to point or be directed deeper in the water. However, as soon as power was taken off the main engine, the vessel would normally assume an upright position which, in this case, she did not do. From the information available, it was not possible to determine if this initial internal flooding was caused by back-flooding of the bilge system due to human error when it was last operated in Seldom, by the operational failure of defective or jammed valves, or by another unassociated cause.Analysis Because the NORTHERNVOYAGER had, in the past, carried as many as 500 to 600 nets on deck with none in the fish hold, it is unlikely that the stowage of the vessel's gear contributed to the sinking. Previous experience would also indicate that the weather was not a factor. As the lazaret contained 40 coils of line, it is considered that the remaining unoccupied space could not hold a volume of water large enough to interfere with the vessel's stability. The cuddy and the engine compartment were seen not to be flooded before the vessel was abandoned and the effect of flooding in the lazaret would have been minimal. Therefore, it appears that the NORTHERNVOYAGER sank as a result of an ingress of water from below the waterline in way of the fish hold. Although the forward section of the fish hold was partly filled with boxes of ice, the after two-thirds of this compartment contained nets which were considerably more permeable. The effects of an ingress of water to the fish hold would, at first, enhance the vessel's stability by the increase of weight. However, the free surface effect of the water would soon overcome such a condition and cause the vessel to list. Once the vessel had listed to approximately 60 degrees, downflooding would result. The fact that the vessel lay over on her side for approximately 30 minutes before sinking stern first would support this hypothesis. It is not known if a paravane was lost which would have caused the vessel to list toward the remaining or unencumbered paravane which, in turn, would tend to point or be directed deeper in the water. However, as soon as power was taken off the main engine, the vessel would normally assume an upright position which, in this case, she did not do. From the information available, it was not possible to determine if this initial internal flooding was caused by back-flooding of the bilge system due to human error when it was last operated in Seldom, by the operational failure of defective or jammed valves, or by another unassociated cause. The previous owner of the NORTHERNVOYAGER affirmed that the vessel had experienced considerably worse weather conditions than those encountered after leaving Seldom without giving him cause for anxiety. On previous occasions, the vessel had been loaded with a greater weight of nets on the main and upper decks with none in the fish hold. The unoccupied space in the lazaret could not hold a volume of water large enough to interfere with the stability of the vessel. It is probable that the NORTHERNVOYAGER sank as a result of an ingress of water from below the waterline in way of the fish hold. Vessels of the size and type of the NORTHERNVOYAGER are not required by regulation to demonstrate stability in a damaged condition. The primary purpose of the fish hold pumps is not damage-control but the evacuation of ice-melt, residual water from fish and of wash-down water from hold cleaning. The primary purpose of the fish hold pumps is not damage-control but the evacuation of ice-melt, residual water from fish and of wash-down water from hold cleaning.Findings The previous owner of the NORTHERNVOYAGER affirmed that the vessel had experienced considerably worse weather conditions than those encountered after leaving Seldom without giving him cause for anxiety. On previous occasions, the vessel had been loaded with a greater weight of nets on the main and upper decks with none in the fish hold. The unoccupied space in the lazaret could not hold a volume of water large enough to interfere with the stability of the vessel. It is probable that the NORTHERNVOYAGER sank as a result of an ingress of water from below the waterline in way of the fish hold. Vessels of the size and type of the NORTHERNVOYAGER are not required by regulation to demonstrate stability in a damaged condition. The primary purpose of the fish hold pumps is not damage-control but the evacuation of ice-melt, residual water from fish and of wash-down water from hold cleaning. The primary purpose of the fish hold pumps is not damage-control but the evacuation of ice-melt, residual water from fish and of wash-down water from hold cleaning. The vessel apparently suffered an ingress of water from an unknown source below the waterline in way of the fish hold, listed heavily to port, downflooded, and sank stern first.Causes and Contributing Factors The vessel apparently suffered an ingress of water from an unknown source below the waterline in way of the fish hold, listed heavily to port, downflooded, and sank stern first.